Unlike synthetic solid-surface materials such as Corian or plastic laminates such as Formica, granite will not melt or scorch when hot pots are placed on it. And this ultra-hard stone is virtually impossible to scratch and extremely difficult to stain.

But what really sets granite apart from other surfaces is its natural beauty. It’s available in hundreds of colors and patterns, everything from shades of pink and white to blues, greens and black. There are even granites that look exactly like marble.

With such a variety of looks, it comes as no surprise that granite is beginning to make an impact in other rooms of the house. The fact that it has become more affordable (some granite tiles can be had for as little as $4 a square foot) only adds to its appeal.

Bill Magnotti, owner of Magnotti & Sons in Pittsburgh, is one of several stone contractors who have seen granite break out of the kitchen in the past five years.

“People like the fact that they’re buying a natural product and that it’s virtually maintenance-free,” he said.

Kirstin Donatelli of Granite Fabricating in Bentleyville, Pa., pointed to one recent project in which granite was used not only in the kitchen, but also the bath, family room and patio.

In addition to Swedish mahogany granite countertops in each of the home’s two kitchens, the owners of the 15,000-square-foot Italian-style villa opted for granite floors with a slip-resistant thermal finish in the lower-level exercise room and home theater. They also chose to craft their spacious first-floor master bath – including the 50-square-foot walk-in shower – almost entirely out of cranberry brown granite.

Most people who choose natural stone in a bathroom use small tiles and lots of grout to keep it from being too slippery. Since this client preferred 12-inch tiles, they decided to have an ivy leaf design sandblasted into the surface. The result: an unexpected, whimsical pattern look that not only makes you feel as though you’re bathing in the great outdoors but keeps your feet firmly on the ground, even when soaking wet. To provide continuity between the slab granite countertops and tiled floors, workers made tighter joints and painted the grout black.

The couple didn’t stop there. Wanting something that would allow them to eat outdoors in style, they commissioned a 10-by-4-foot granite tabletop with a granite base and an elegant half bull-nose edge for the patio.

Their choice of material was hardly cheap. The 600-pound table, which seats eight comfortably, cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000 while the sandblasted design in the shower added about $20 to the price of each tile. The floor, with tiles flamed with a torch to take off the polish, cost $12 to $15 a square foot.

The homeowners say the granite helped to give their home the classic look of the villas they’d seen on a trip to Italy.

“You just can’t beat the aesthetics,” Donatelli said.

Water jets and diamond blades have made it possible to cut stone into virtually any shape. Bathroom vanities, fireplace hearths, coffee and end tables are other popular items made out of granite.

Granite also is popping up in home bars. Marble, which is extremely porous, will stain if someone accidentally spills red wine or lemon or orange juice on it. Granite, if it is properly sealed with a penetrating sealer, is impervious to almost any liquid, and it is extremely easy to clean.

Magnotti has seen increased demand for granite barbecue tops for top-of-the-line built-in stainless grills. The company also makes outdoor tabletops and tables. Not only is the stone able to withstand rainy days and harsh winters, “it’s heavy enough that the wind doesn’t topple the tables over,” he said.